Attack on CHP deputy chair was planned, says Kılıçdaroğlu

AYDIN – Doğan News Agency

The armed attack that injured main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Bülent Tezcan was a planned act, and the party is determined not to “surrender to provocations,” CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said.

Paying a visit to the western province of Aydın after the attack on Tezcan, Kılıçdaroğlu said he was convinced the act was planned beforehand, as the attacker had made a reservation at the restaurant on the same night knowing that Tezcan would be present. 

Tezcan was shot in the foot at a restaurant in the building of his party’s office in Aydın for Oct. 29 Republic Day celebrations. 

Police captured the attacker Alparslan Sargın in Aydın’s Kuşadası district on the night of the attack after sighting him through surveillance cameras. Sargın was charged with deliberately causing bodily injury after his interrogation at Aydın police station.

“I hope those who carry out [these] provocations will be prosecuted as soon as possible. It is important that the assailants were captured and detained shortly after the attack. I express my gratitude to the Aydın security office and police officers,” Kılıçdaroğlu said. 

“Our conviction is that the attack was planned beforehand. They reserved seats [at the restaurant] beforehand and arrived there. They wanted to sit at the table right behind Tezcan. It is very important for us that the forces and will behind this attack are revealed,” he added. 

Recalling previous attacks and attempts against CHP politicians, Kılıçdaroğlu said this one targeting Tezcan was a “different version” of such attacks. 

“It saddens us that there has been a planned attack against the CHP ... I want to make a call to all of my CHP supporting compatriots: Whatever they do, we will not err from the path we know. We will never surrender to provocations,” he added.